Circuit breaker control system



Sept. 16, 1952 w. H. cUTTlo 2,511,009

CIRCUIT BREAKER CONTROL SYSTEM Filed NOV. 29, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Sept. 16, 1952 W. H. CUTTINO CIRCUIT BREAKER CONTRGL SYSTEM Filed NOV. 29, 1947 2 SI-IEETS---Sl-HEIE'Iy 2 ATTO EY Patented Sept. 16, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f .CIRCUIT BREAKER CONTROL SYSTEM William H. Cuttino, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East y Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 29, 1947, Serial No. 788,898

(Cl. 17E-294:)

Z Claims. 1

My invention relates, generally, to control systems, and it has reference, in particular, to circuit breaker-control systems suitable for controlling the connection of load devices, such as capacitor banks, to power circuits.

Generally stated, it is an object of my invention to provide an improved circuit breaker control system which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and is reliable and eiective in operation.

More specically, it is an object ofmy invention to provide a circuit breaker control system for normally opening and closing the circuit breaker in response to predetermined variations in the voltage in a load circuit, and for preventing closingv of the circuit breaker after it is opened in response to an overcurrent condition or other abnormal condition.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in an automatic switching system for capacitors, for preventing reconnection of the capacitors to the line after they have been disconnected therefrom due to a fault condition in the capacitors.

Yet vanother object of my invention is to provide; inr automatic switching systems, for using a lockout relay of the mechanically-latched type forv preventing the breaker from being reclosed after it is tripped in 'response to a fault current condition.

It is also an'important object of my invention yin part, be explained hereinafter.

' In practicing my invention in one offits forms acircuit breaker. provided with'both shunt and overcurrent .trip means is controlled by a closing relay; and a. cut-oftrelay. The circuit breaker is operated ncrmallyunder the control of a voltageV relay, :responsive to Vvoltage conditions of a power circuit 'for vconnecting abank of capacitors tothe power: circuit and disconnecting them therefrom. A. lockoutrelayY of a mechanicallylatched type is used. to setup an operating 4circuit for the closing relay, and tointerruptthe operating circuit for the cut-oil.' relay. Thelockout relay is operated when the circuit breaker is closed, and is reset so as to permit reclosing the circuit breaker, only when the breaker is tripped by energizing the shunt trip means.

For amore complete understanding of the na- 2 ture and scope of my invention, reference may be made to the following detailed description, which may be read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view or a capacitor switching system embodying the invention in one of its forms;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a capacitor switching system embodying the invention in another form; and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a capacitor switching system embodying the invention in a still different form.

Referring to Fig. 1, the reference numeral l0 may denote, generally, a capacitor switching system wherein a circuit breaker l2 may be disposed to connect a bank of capacitors I3 to a power circuit comprising conductors l5, under the control of a voltage relay i1 responsive to the voltage of the power circuit.

The circuit breaker l2 may, for example, be of the trip-free type comprising, an operating winding 20 for actuating an armature 2l which may be connected to a breaker operating mechanism 23 by means of engaging latch members 24 and 25. The operating mechanism 23 may be latched in the closed position by means of overload trip means 21 having an operating Winding 28. The operating winding 28 may be energized in accordance with the current drawn by the capacitors, being, for example, energized from a currentJ transformer 29. Only one current transformer is shown connected for operating the overcurrent trip means in. order to simplify the drawings.

The circuit breaker l2 may also be provided with shunt trip means 30 having an operating winding 3| which maybe energized so as to actuate the operating mechanism 23 to disengage it from the armature 2l inorder to open the .circuit breaker.

The circuit breaker I2 also may be provided with suitable closing means comprising, for example, a closing relay 32 having an operating winding 33, and a cut-oli relay 34 having an operating winding 35. The closing relay 32 may be disposed to connect the operating winding 23 of the circuit breaker to a suitable source of electrical energy which may be represented by the control bus conductors 31. .These conductors 31 may be connected by means of a control circuit breaker 38 and a control transformer 39 to the power circuit conductors l5. The cut-off relayf34 may be connected for energization so as tofbe shunted through contact member 12a of the circuitbreaker i2 and opened when the circuit breaker closes to thereby interrupt the energizing circuit for the closing relay 32.

Manual operation of the circuit breaker may be eliected by means of a manual control switch eil, which may be operable to trip and close positions to energize the operating winding 3i of the shunt trip means, and the operating winding 33 of the closing relay, respectively.

Automatic operation of the circuit breaker l2 may be effected by connecting the closing relay 32 and the shunt trip means 39 for energization under the control of the Voltage relay E1, which may be connected across the control transformer 39. Time delay relays i3 and lle comprising stationary contact members 3b and Mb, and bimetallic contact members 63a and lita provided with heaters lith and 44h, may be connected in circuit relation with the closingy relay and the shunt trip means by the voltage relay Il, so as to provide for delayed closing and opening of the circuit breaker as the Voltage of the power circuit drops and rises, respectively.

The manual control switch llt may be of the drum type, having contact members lita and 4Gb actuable from the normal position of the switch to trip and close the circuit breaker, respectively. Contact Vmembers lite and lied may be so arranged that the operating handle of kthe switch must be moved axially from the normal position to connect the voltage relay l? for eiiecting'automatic operation of the circuit breaker.

In order to provide for normally reclosing the circuit breaker i2 when it is connected for automatic operation, and for preventing reclosure ci the breaker when it-is tripped by the overload tripmeans 21, a lockout relay-it be provided. The lockout relay may, for example, be of atype having an armature l5 provided with an operatinC winding el and a mechanical latch t8 for retaining the relay in the operated position. A reset windings@ Vbe provided for releasing the latch Sto return the relay to the non-operated position.

By connecting the` normally open contact member ica of the lockout relay in circuit relation withA the operating winding 33 of the closing relay 32, and connecting normally closed contact memberb ofthe lockout relay to provide a closing circuit for the cut-oilE relay 34, reclosing of the circuit breaker may be prevented. By connecting the reset winding 9 in shunt circuit relation with the operating winding Iii of the shunt trip means, the lockout relay may be reset each time the circuit breaker is stripped by the shunt trip means, so as to provide for reclosing the breaker. Since the lockout relay will remain in the voperated position when the circuit breaker is tripped by means of the overload trip means 2, the circuit breaker cannot Vbe automatically closed, since the lookout relay 4t must first be reset.

The circuit breaker E2 may be manually closed by operating the control switch'fiii to the close position. An energizing circuit is thereby completed for the operating winding of the lockout relay, extending from the Vupper conductor 3'! throughconductor 50, contact member Mib, conductor 52, operating winding el, closed contact members 34a and conductor 54 to the lower of the conductors 31. the cut-oir" relay 34 are closed as soon as the control breaker ,38 is closed as the cut-oir relay is'then energized from the control bus conductors 3l through an obvious energizing circuit including the conductor 5e, operating winding 35, con- Contact members 3io of l 4 trol resistor 5t, contact members 45h and conductors 5i and 5t.

When the lockout relay t operates, the operating winding 33 of the closing relay 32 will be energized through a circuit extending the upper conductor 3l through conductor til, contact members 4Gb, conductor 52, operating winding 33, contact members 46a and irda, and conductor 5i back to the control bus. Accordingly, the closing relay 33 operates, and the operating winding 2B or" the circuit breaker` l2 will be energized, closing the circuit breaker and connecting the capacitors i3 to the conductors i5 of the power circuit. The cut-off relay e@ is shunted by contact members 92a, and interrupts the energizing circuit of the operating winding 33 at contact member 34a.

By moving the operating handle of the control switch l to the oit position and then moving it axially to the right, to the automatic positicn,fthe voltage relay l? may be connected for eiecting automatic control of the circuit breaker l2. Should the moving contact me i ber Ha of the lvoltage relay il engage stationary Contact members HR, the circuit breaker l2 will remain in a closed position; however, should the contact member ila move to the right, so as to engage contact members i'iL, the heater 45h. will be connected across the control conductors 3l. After a predetermined time delay, contact member ello engages stationary contact member sb, and an operating circuit is provided for the shunt trip winding 3i, extending from the control bus through conductor 54, contact members i229 of the circuit breaker, shunt trip winding 3l, conductor Ei?, contact members lith, and elle, contact member rigid, contact members HL and ila, and conductor 62 back to the control bus. The shunt trip means actuates the operating mechanism 23 of the circuit breaker, so as to disengage the latch members 2t and 25 and trip the circuit breaker.

Since the reset winding 49 of the lockout relay i6 is connected in shunt circuit relation with the operating winding 3| of the shunt trip means, the lockout relay Will be reset. Accordingly, the cut-off relay 3ft will return to the operated position as soon as contact member 46h closes. Thus when the voltage relay Il subsequentlyoperates to complete an energizing circuit for the closing relay 32, this circuit is already set up through contact members 36a of the .cut-off relay Si. When the lockout relay le operates, it completes the energizing. circuit for the operating winding 33 of the closingrelayz and the circuit breaker i2 will then reclose.

Should an internal fault occur in one of the capacitors i3, the .operating winding 28 of the overcurrent trip means 21 will be energized suf- E ciently to releasethe operating mechanism 23 ingly, the cut-orf relay 34 remains in the deenergized position, and the energizing circuit for the closing relay 32 will be interrupted at contact members 36a, so that the breaker may not be reclosed automatically after it opens in response to an overcurrent condition.

Referring to Fig. 2 the reference numeral le may denote, generally, a capacitor control system wherein a bank of capacitors I3 may be connected by means of a circuit breaker 72 to the conductors I5 of a power circuit in response to operation of a voltage relay Il energized from the" conductors I5. InV this instance, the circuit breaker 12 is` ofthe non-trip free type, and may comprise an armature 13 having an operating winding 14 and'provided with latch means15vfor retaining it in the closed position. Overcurrent trip means 16 and shunt trip means 11 may be provided for actuating the latch means 15 to open the circuit breaker.

Operation of the circuit breaker 12 may be provided for by means of a closing relay 18 Vhaving `an armature disposed to be mechanically latched to'operate contact members thereof and unlatched Vtherefrom by the breaker when it closes, and havingl operating winding 19 which may be energized'from the control bus conductors 31, either manually through the operation of a control switch 40, or automatically under the control of the voltage relay I1.` Time delay relays 43 and 44, which may be similar to vthose described in connection with the system vshown in 1, may be provided for effecting delayed operationof the circuit breaker in-response to operation of the' voltage relay I1.

' In orderV to provide for effecting automatic reclosing of the circuitbreaker 'I2 when it opens under the control ofthe shunt trip means 11, and preventing reclosing lof `the circuit breaker when it istripped by the overcurrent trip means 16, a lockout relay 80 may be utilized similar to that'described in connection with the control system shown in Fig. 1, having an operating winding 8| and a reset winding 82. The lockout relay may be connected so as to provide, in its deenergized position, an energizing circuit for the operating winding 19 of the closing relay 18 through contact member 80a. The reset winding l82 of the lockout relay may be connected in shunt circuit relation with the shunttrip means 11, so as to insure an operating circuit for the closing relay 1B whenever the circuitl breaker 12 is tripped by the shunt trip means 11. The operating winding 8I of the lockout relay may be connected in shunt circuit relation with the operating winding 14 of the breaker.

In operation, the control system 19 functions in substantially the same manner as the control system I of Fig. l. When the control switch 40 is operated to the close position, an energizing circuit is provided for the closing relay 19, ex-

tending from one bus conductor 31, through conductor 84, operating winding 19, contact members 89a, conductor 85, contact member 49h and conductor 86 back to the other bus conductor. The closing relay operates, and provides an obvious energizing circuit for the operating winding 14 of the circuit breaker through contact members 18a and 18h. At the same time the operating winding SI of the lockout relay 80 is energized and the relay operates and is latched in its operated position.

Should an overcurrent condition of the capacitors I3 result, the latch means 15 will be actuated by the overcurrent trip means 16 to open the circuit breaker. Since the lockout relay 80 remains in the operated position the energizing circuit for the closing relay 18 will be interrupted at contact members 86a, and the circuit breaker can not be reclosed without resetting the lockout relay.

Should the circuit breaker be tripped through operation of the voltage relay I1, or operation of the control switch 40 to the trip position, the reset winding 82 of the lockout relay will be energized along with the shunt trip means 11. Accordingly, the lockout relay 80 will be restored 6 to the deenergized position, so as to setup an operating circuit yfor the closing relay 18 through contact members a. The breaker may, therefore, be reclosed by the relay I1 or the control switch 40.

Referring to Fig. 3, the reference numeral 99 may denote, generally, a capacitor switching system wherein a bank of capacitors I3 may be connected by means of a circuit breaker 92 to a power circuit comprising conductors I5, under the control of a voltage relay I1 responsive to the voltage of the power circuit, or in response to operation of a manual control switch 49.

In this embodiment of the invention, the circuit breakerl 92 is of themotor-operated type, having an operating motor 93 connected in driving relation with a `closing cam 94, which may be disposed to actuate a closing lever 95 to close the circuit breaker. A limit switch 96 may be utilized to provide an operating circuit for the motor 93 over a'predetermined operating range, and latch means 91 may be provided for retaining the breaker in the closed position. Shunt trip meansv 98- and overcurrent trip means 99 may be provided for actuating the latch means 91 to trip the circuit breaker.4

In order to provide for -reclosing the circuit breaker 92 whenever it is tripped under the control of the voltage relay I1, or through operation of the manual control switch 49, a lockout relay |09 may be utilized, having an operating winding I 0I and latch means |92 for retaining the relay in the operated position. A reset winding ID3 may be provided for actuating the latch means |02 to restore the relay to the deenergized position.

The circuit breaker 92 may be closed through operation of the manual control switch 4f), whenever the control circuit breaker 39 is closed to energize the bus conductors 31. An obvious energizing circuit from the control bus is thereby provided for the operating of the motor 93, extending through conductor |95, contact member 49h, conductor |06, contact members Ila, conductor I91, motor 93, and conductors H29 and I99 back to the control bus. As soon as the motor 93 commences to operate the limit switch 9E closes and maintains an energizing circuit for the motor until it reaches the closed position. As the breaker closes, contact members 92a close and the operating winding IDI of the lockout relay IDU is energized in parallel circuit relation with the motor 93, through contact member 92a. of the circuit breaker. The relay |99 operates to interrupt the starting circuit for the motor at contact members Ilma. The limit switch 96 subsequently interrupts the running circuit of the motor.

Should the circuit breaker 92 be tripped by the overcurrent trip means 99, the circuit breaker remains open, since the operating circuit for the motor is interrupted by the lockout relay |99, which is latched in its energized position. Should the circuit breaker be opened by operation of the shunt trip means 98, the reset winding |03, which is connected in parallel circuit relation therewith, will also be energized. Accordingly, the lockout relay returns to the deenergized position. The starting circuit for the motor 93 is thereupon set up, since contact members |0011 are now closed. Accordingly, the circuit breaker may be reclosed under the control o the voltage relay I1, or of the control switch 4 From the above description and the accompanying drawings it will be apparent that I have provided in a simple and eiective mannerfor selectively controlling the operation of a circuit breaker in an automatic switching system. rThe circuit breaker may be readily reclosed when it is opened in response to operation of the shunt trip means, while reclosing is prevented when the breaker opens in response to an. overcurrent or other fault condition. These characteristics are particularly suitable for the automatic switching of capacitors, wherein it is desired to normally open and close the circuit breaker in response to variations in the voltage of the power circuit to which the capacitors areto be connected. In the event of affault condition occurring in one of the capacitors, which would result in an overcurrent condition at the circuit breaker Vcontrolling the connection of the capacitors and yet not necessarilyresulting in an overcurrent condition of the power circuit itself, it is desirable to disconnect the capacitors and prevent their reconnection to the power circuit.v This prevents undue damage to the capacitors. A capacitor switching system einbodying the features ofmy invention as hereinbefore described is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and' is reliable and eiective in operation. y

Since certain changes may be made in the above described construction,and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from'the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all thematter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be considered. as iilus- :i

trative, and not in a limiting sense.

l. claim as my invention:

1. In a control circuit for a circuit breaker operable to connect a' load to a power circuit and having one trip device with a` shunt winding and another with a series overcurrent winding operable to trip the breaker, a closing relay having an operating winding, a cutoff relay having contacts connected in series circuit with the operating winding of the closing relay, means including a voltage relay operable to selectively provide operating circuits for the closing Vrelay and shunt trip device, a lockoutrrelay of the latched-in-position type having an operating winding and a reset winding, a circuit connecting the operating winding of the lockout relay to the power circuit to operate theY lockout relay and connect the operating winding of th'eclosing relay in shunt circuit therewith, and an additional circuit connecting .the reset winding in shuntrelation with the shunt winding of the trip device for resetting the lockout relay to provide lan operating circuit for the cutoff relay.

the breaker when it closes, a lockout relay of the latched-in-operated-position type having an operating winding and a reset winding, a circuit connecting the closing relay to the power circuit including contacts of the lockout relay closed when the lockout relay is operated, ymeans including voltage and time delay-relays operable to selectively connect the operating Winding of the lockout relay and the shunt trip device to the power circuit, another circuit connecting the reset winding in shunt circuit. with the shunt trip device, and a circuit connecting the cutoii relay to the power circuit including contacts of the lockout relay closed when the lockout reiay is reset. Y

Y Y WILLAM I-I. CUTTlNO. Y

REFERENCES einen y The'following references are-oii record in the file of this patent: 1

' UNITED STATES PATENTS 

